Panel supporting and lifting device having adjustable walls and gripping jaws



Sept. 14, 1965 c MOALPINE ETAL 3,206,066

PANEL SUPPORTING AND LIFTING DEVICE HAVING ADJUSTABLE WALLS AND GRIPPING JAWS Filed Nov. 21, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS ("x/4245s H M541. P/A/ 5 2mm XMMQV% W 047702445 VJ P 14, 1965 c. H. M ALPINE ETAL 3,206,066

PANEL SUPPORTING AND LIFTING DEVICE HAVING ADJUSTABLE WALLS AND GRIPPING JAWS Filed Nov. 21, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 14, 1965 c McALplNE ETAL 3,206,066

PANEL SUPPORTING AND LIFTING DEVICE HAVING ADJUSTABLE wALLs AND GRIPPING JAWS Filed NOV. 21, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 1N VEN TOR. (#42455 H M-AP/A/E p 14, 1965 c. H. M ALPINE ETAL 3,206,065

PANEL SUPPORTING AND LIFTING DEVICE HAVING ADJUSTABLE WALLS AND GRIPPING JAWS Filed Nov. 21, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 3,206 .(966 PANEL SUIPURTING AND LIFTING DEVICE HAVING ADJUSTABLE WALLS AND GRIP- PING JAWS Charles H. McAlpine, Coloma Township, Berrien County, and Kenneth G. McGowan, Lawrence Township, Van Buren County, Mich, assignors to Winkel Machine (30., 1110., Kalamazoo, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Nov. 21, 1963, Ser. No. 325,266 13 Claims. (Cl. 221242) This invention relates in general to a panel feeder and more articularly refers to a panel feeder having improved width adjustment means and panel lifting means.

The device of the invention was developed as a result of needs in battery plate handling equipment and will be described hereinbelow in terms of such usage. However, this description will be recognized as being for purposes of illustration only and will not be taken as limiting. Thus, it will be recognized that the device of the invention may be used in handling other types of panel-like entities.

The present invention was developed in a continuing effort to improve existing battery plate feeding machines such as those of United States Patent Nos. 2,908,377 and 2,930,508. A more easily and more closely controllable plate feeder mechanism capable of more effective performance was sought, particularly in the areas of stack width adjustment and stack lifting. Accordingly, the objects of the invention include:

(1) To provide an improved panel feeder including improved width adjustment and stack lifting means.

(2) To provide a panel feeder, as aforesaid, easily adjustable for containing stacks of panels having differing dimensions, capable of containing stacks incorporating large numbers of panels, capable of lifting the panels above the lowermost one thereof off said lowermost panel to allow substantially free movement of said lowermost panel away from said stack and to continue such operation until all of the panels in the stack have been so removed.

(3) To provide a panel feeder, as aforesaid, wherein said panels are battery plates and wherein the action of said panel feeder is suificiently gentle as to substantially eliminate infliction of damage to plates.

(4) To provide a panel feeder, as aforesaid, having a minimum number of adjustments for adapting to differing operating conditions, which adjustments are noncritical and easily effected, which panel feeder once adjusted, will remain in adjustment throughout long periods of operation, which is sturdily constructed, which requires only a minimum of maintenance over a long service life and which is easily and inexpensively maintained.

(5) To provide a panel feeder, as aforesaid, which is relatively easily and inexpensively manufactured and uses either widely available or easily fabricated parts.

Other objects and purposes of the invention will be apparent to persons acquainted with apparatus of this general type upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary, rear elevational view of a panel feeder embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of said panel feeder as taken from the right side of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line IIIIII of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the panel feeder of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line VV of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line VI-VI of FIGURE 2.

3,Z@fi,066 Patented Sept. 14, 1965 FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view essentially as taken on the line VII-VII of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary, partially broken, sectional view taken on the line VIIIVIII of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 and showing the parts thereof in a different position.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line X-X of FIGURE 1.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION In general, the invention contemplates a plate feeder including means defining a pair of upstanding, opposed guide walls for locating a vertical stack of panels therebetween. Said guide walls are each pivotally supported at a point vertically spaced thereabove for moving toward each other and into close proximity with the sides of said stack to support said stack against sideward movement Eccentric means contnol the inward and outward movement of said guide walls by bearing upon lift frames secured to said guide walls. Each guide wall supports for limited movement toward said stack on its outer face a depending generally vertically slidable jaw plate having a jaw affixed at the lower end thereof. The jaw plate has an actuating block afiixed to the lower end thereof. Said lift frame carries jaw camming rollers engaged with suitable projections on said actuating block whereby an upwardly directed force on said actuating block together with said jaw camming rollers moves the jaws inwardly toward said stack as they move upwardly. Thus, said jaws grip said stack of panels above the lower one or ones thereof and lift same out of contact with said lower panel or panels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience in reference only and is not limiting. For example, the terms rightwar and leftward will refer to directions in specified drawings and will also'refer to sides of the machine in FIGURE 1. The terms forward and rearward will be defined by the normal direction of movement of the lower panel of the stack away from the stack, which direction is taken to be the forward direction whereby the rearward side of the panel feeder is seen in FIGURE 1. The terms upward" and downward will refer to the panel feeder in its normal position of operation as shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3. The terms outward and inward will refer to directions away from or toward, respectively, the geometric center of the panel feeder. Such terminology will include the terms above specifically mentioned as well as derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 a panel feeder 10 embodying the invention is supported upon a suitable fixed machine frame 11. The machine frame 11 includes an upstanding wall generally indicated at 12 and a shelf 13 rearwardly extending therefrom. The panel feeder 10 supports a generally vertical stack 14 of panels including a bottom panel 16, said stack 14 and panel 16 being indicated in broken lines in FIGURE 1. The bottom panel 16 is here described for convenience in reference as a single panel but it will be apparent that the panel 16 may if desired, comprise a plurality of separate stacked panel members. A plurality of vertically aligned bars 17 are fixed on the wall 12 adjacent the stack 14 and extend downwardly to a point just above the bottom panel 16.

In accordance with the teachings of previous patents, such as the aforementioned Patent Nos. 2,908,377 and 2,- 930,508, the panel feeder 10 preferably includes means normally supporting the bottom panel 16 including a side shuttle 21 which is pivotally mounted and resiliently urged inwardly to move the lowest panel 16 sidewardly (to the right in FIGURE 1), a fixed increment with respect to the rest of the stack 14. Said side shuttle 21 is supported by a roller 22 (FIGURE 3) and is controlled by movement of a main shuttle 26. The main shuttle 26 includes a blade 27 the forward tip of which is engageable with the rear endge of the bottom panel 16 for moving said bottom panel forwardly from under the remainder of the stack 14. The shuttles 21 and 26 are here shown in their intermediate positions of operation. The main shuttle 26 is drivenby a pitman arm 28 which is preferably driven from the power source of the machine upon whose frame 11 the panel feeder is supported. A suitable opening 29 in the lower portion of the wall 12 at and above the shelf 13 allows passage therethrough of said bottom panel 16. A pair of rollers 31 and 32 are provided in front of the opening 29 and at least one thereof is powered to urge a panel such as the bottom panel 16 therepast and onto a table 33 for further treatment. A roller actuator 34 lies in the path of said panel and trips a limit switch 36 during the passage of said panel therepast. An adjustable backstop 37 is supported on the shelf 13 next to the shuttle 26 for preventing rearward movement of the stack 14 upon rearward movement of the shuttle 26 from under said stack 14. Thus, a stack 14 of panels (FIGURE 1) may be placed in the panel feeder 10, laterally supported by means hereinafter described and at a particular point in the operation of the machine may be raised above the bottom panel 16 thereof whereupon the side shuttle 21 moves said bottom panel 16 rightwardly as seen in FIG- URE 1 a short distance, the pitman 28 moves the shuttle 26 forwardly so that the shuttle 27 engages said bottom panel 16 and pushes the same forwardly through the opening 29 (FIGURE 3). If desired, the several lowermost panels in the stack may be allowed to remain on the bottom panel 16, while the upper part of the stack is raised, such as to asure firm contact of the panel 16 by the shuttles 21 and 26. The bottom panel 16 is then moved forwardly between the rollers 31 and 32 onto the table 33 for further action. As the main shuttle 26 is retracted rearwardly by return movement of the pitman 28 friction between the blade 27 and the bottom surface of the stack '14 is prevented from moving panels of said stack rearwardly by the backstop 37. Means hereinafter described and supporting the stack 14 by this time have allowed the stack to fall and a new bottom panel 16 is supported on the side shuttle 21 for further repetition of the above-described action. The above disclosure includes parts which are known in the art and is made only to provide a typical, though certainly not the only, environment for portions of the panel feeder 10 hereinafter described and embodying the invention.

Turning now to parts of the panel feeder 10 embodying the present invention, a pair of generally upstanding guide walls 51 and 51a which are normally in spaced, essentially parallel, relationship are located with the stack 14 therebetween and in close proximity thereto. The guide walls 51 and 51a extend rearwardly from the wall 12 preferably to the rear extent of the stack 14 (FIGURE 1). The guide walls 51 and 51a extend downwardly to a point adjacent to but spaced above or from the shelf 13. Since parts of the device associated with the guide walls 51 and 51a are essentially mirror images of each other, only the parts thereof corresponding to the guide wall 51 will be described. This description will be understood to apply also to the corresponding parts of the guide wall 51a unless otherwise stated. Thus, parts associated with the guide Wall 5111 will carry the same reference numerals as corresponding parts of the guide wall 51 with the sufiix a appended thereto. Thus, the guide wall 51 is pivotally supported on the wall 12 by means including a depending arm 43 pivotally secured to the wall 12 by a threaded stud 41 and wing nut 42. The arm, 43 has adjacent the lower end thereof a pair of elongated holes 46 therethrough, through which extend suitable screws 47 which threadedly engage a depending, somewhat rearwardly extending, guide wall 51. A hearing 54 (FIGURES 1 and 2) is fixed to the outer surface of the guide wall 51 adjacent the upper end thereof and vertically slidably supports a jaw assembly generally indicated at 56. The jaw assembly 56 includes a generally upstanding jaw plate 57, rigidly affixed at 58 to an upwardly extending rod 59. The upper end of the rod 59 is slidably supported by the bearing 54 for essentially vertical movement. The rod 59 has a collar 61 fixed thereto at a point spaced downwardly from the bearing 54 and a spiral compression spring 62 is supporting upon and coaxial with the rod 59 between the bearing 54 and the collar 61 for urging the rod 59 and hence the jaw assembly 56 downwardly.

A preferably identical pair of jaw blocks 63 and 64 (FIGURES 6 and 7) are horizontally spaced and preferably approximately centered upon the inner face of the jaw plate 57 adjacent the lower end thereof. The jaw blocks 63 and 64 are secured to the jaw plate 57 by means including the screws 66. The jaw blocks 63 and 64 carry on the inner faces thereof a plurality of teeth 67 which preferably have essentially horizontal upper surfaces for engaging and supporting panels in the stack 14. Suitable openings 71 in the lower end of the wall 51 allow projection of the jaw blocks 63 and 64 therethrough toward said stack 14.

A manually engageable handle 72 (FIGURES 1 and 2) includes arcuate camming and locking portions 73 and 74, respectively, and is pivotally supported upon the guide wall 51 by a screw 76 near the portions 73 and 74. The jaw plate 57 has a camming pin 77 engageable by said camming and locking portions 73 and 74 upon pivotal movement of the handle 72 on the screw 76. A recess 78 in a front edge of the jaw plate 57 below the pin 77 allows the jaw plate 57 to move vertically with respect to the screw 76. Thus, clockwise movement of the handle 72 as seen in FIGURE 2 first forces the camming portion 73 against the pin 77 to move the jaw assembly 56 upwardly until said jaw assembly 56 is locked in an upward position by contact of the pin 77 with the locking recess 74.

The jaw assembly 56 includes further means enabling same to be moved upwardly. An essentially L-shaped actuator block 82 (FIGURES 6 and 7) is secured to the lower end of the jaw plate 57 on its outer face with screws 81. The actuator block 82 rotatably supports a lift roller 84 in a recess 83 at its lower outer edge. A lift plunger 86 preferably has an enlarged upper face which lies under and supports the lift roller 84. The lift plunger 86 is vertically slidably supported by a suitable bearing 87 aflixed to the shelf 13 by any convenient means, not shown. The lift plunger 86 may be actuated in any desired manner and its action is preferably synchronized with the aforementioned movement of the main and side shuttles 26 and 21, respectively. Thus, upward movement of the plunger 86 urges the lift roller 84 and jaw assembly 56 upwardly.

A lift frame 53 is afiixed to the outer face of the guide wall 51 at the lower end thereof and includes means for controlling the motion of the lower end of the jaw assembly 56. The lift frame 53 includes an upstanding rearward plate 88 and a forward plate 89 preferably parallel thereto and spaced therefrom. The plates 88 and 89 are secured to the lower end of the guide wall 51 by any convenient means not shown with the lower end of the jaw assembly 56 normally located therebetween. The plates 88 and 89 carry opposed, preferably coaxial, pins 91 (FIG- URES 8 and 10) near the top edges thereof from which camming blocks 92 and 93, respectively, pivotally depend. The camming blocks 92 and 93 are located adjacent to and on the rearward and forward sides, respectively, of the jaw plate 57. Each camming block rotatably supports upon a screw 94 adjacent its lower end a suitable cam roller 96, the circumferential surface of which is capable of contacting the outer side of the jaw plate 57.

A connector plate 97 spans the space between the outer vertical edges of the rear and front plates 88 and 89 and is secured thereto by means of screws 98. A

pair of elongated screws 101 threadedly engages the connector plate 97 at spaced points thereon and extend toward respective ones of the camming blocks 92 and 93. Each of the camming blocks 92 and 93 has a locator pin 102 affixed to the outer wall thereof adjacent the lower end thereof and extending toward and substantially aligned with a respective one of the elongated screws 101. Each of the elongated screws has a nut 103 thereon. A spiral compression spring 104 is coaxially supported upon each of the locator pins 102 and its corresponding elongated screw 101 for urging apart the nuts 103 and the corresponding bottom portion of the corresponding one of the camming blocks 92 and 93. Thus, each of the camming rollers 96 is urged into contact with the jaw plate 57 to urge said jaw plate 57 inwardly toward the stack 14 of panels. Each of the camming blocks 92 and 93 has an inwardly extending abutment 106 thereon which contacts the outer face of the guide wall 51 prevent the spring 104 from moving the lower end of the camming blocks 92 and 93 and hence the lower end of the jaw plate 57 inwardly beyond a preselected point.

A generally T-shaped camming plate 108 (FIGURES 6, 7 and is atlixed by the screws 81 to the outer face of the actuating block 82. The T-shaped plate 108 is sufficiently spaced from the jaw plate 57 as to allow snug passage of the camming rollers 96 therebetween. When the actuating block 82 is in its lowermost position, the lower edge of the upper bar 109 (FIGURE 8) of the T- shaped plate 108 will contact the camming rollers 96 for preventing inward movement of the T-shaped plate 108 and hence of the lower end of the jaw plate 57.

A pair of small camming plates 111 are each secured by screws 112 and 113 to the lower end of the jaw plate 57 on either side of the actuator block 82. The screws 113 may, if desired, extend through the jaw plate 57 and threadedly engaged the respective one of the jaw blocks 63 and 64. The small camming plates 111 are, when the actuator block 82 is in its lowermost position, located somewhat below the camming rollers 96. When, however, the actuating block 82 is raised, the small camming plates 111 rise into contact with the camming rollers 96 and the upper and outer edges of said small camming plates 111 follow the circumference of the camming rollers 96 upwardly and inwardly until said rollers 96 ride upon the outer surfaces of said camming plates 111. Thus, the jaw blocks 63 and 64 are moved upwardly and inwardly on a curved path into contact with the stack 14 to raise same. The pressure which is exerted by said jaw blocks 63 and 64 on the stack of panels 14 is adjustable by means of rotating the elongated screws 101 and the extend to which the jaws 63 and 64 may move into contact with the stack 14 is limited by contact between the abutments 106 and the guide wall 51 whereby to prevent damage to said stack 14 by excessive pressures exerted thereupon by said jaws 63 and 64.

The rear and front plates 88 and 89 (FIGURES 2 and 6), respectively, have coaxially aligned, upwardly opening recesses 116 in the upper edges thereof and spaced outwardly from the camming blocks 92 and 93. A cylindrical eccentric 117 is rotatably supported upon a suitable shaft 118 which is fixed at its forward end to the wall 12 by a nut 119 and which extends rearwardly therefrom to a point well spaced to the rear of the rear plate 88. The eccentric 117 has a radially enlarged portion 121 at the rear thereof which serves as a knob en- I abling the operator of the machine to rotate the eccentric 117. A wing nut 122 is threaded on the rear end of the shaft 118 and, when tightened, fixes the eccentric 117 with respect to the shaft 118. Since eccentric 117 bears sidewardly upon the walls of the recess 116, a rotation of said eccentric 117 will cause the lift frame 53 and hence the lower end of the guide wall 51 to move inwardly or outwardly whereby said guide wall 51 may be appropriately positioned adjacent stacks 14 of different widths. A flange 124 is affixed to the read plate 88 by screws 126 to travel between a pair of spaced limiting abutments represented by the screws 127 and 128 for limiting movement of the guide wall 51 by the eccentric 117. The screws 127 and 123 threadedly engaged a U bracket 129 which is afiixed to the shelf 13 behind the lift frame 53.

The guide wall 51 has affixed thereto a pair of subassemblies which do not appear on the other guide wall 51a. One of the subassemblies includes a support bracket 131 fixed by screws 132 (FIGURES 2 and 6) to the lower sides of the rear and front plates 88 and 89 and extending inwardly therefrom. The support bracket 131 supports sloping lower plate carrier blocks 133 and 134 for supporting the right-hand side of the bottom panel 16.

The other subassembly includes an adjustable abutment (FIGURES 4, 8 and 10) mounted on the guide wall 51 which cooperates with the side shuttle 21. In cases where the device of the invention is utilized without a side shuttle 21 said abutment means may not be required. The abutment means includes a bracket 136 of inverted L-shape, the upper or ledge portion of which overhangs the upper edge of the forward plate 89 adjacent the guide wall 51. A screw 137 threadedly engages the plate 89 and slidably and vertically supports the bracket 136 thereon. The bracket 136 is urged downwardly by a spring 138 coaxial with said screw 137. An adjustment screw 139 threadedly engages the ledge portion of the bracket 136 and abuts against the upper edge of the plate 89 whereby rotation of the adjustment screw 139 will cause the bracket 136 to move vertically. The guide wall 51 has an outwardly opening recess 141 in its outer face adjacent the bracket 136 whereby an extension 142 of said bracket 136 extends rearwardly into said recess 141 and thence downwardly to end in an abutment 143. The inner face of the abutment 143 is coplanar with the inner face of the guide wall 51 and extends therebelow a distance determined by the adjust ment of the adjustment screw 139. A screw 144 secures one leg of a generally L-shaped finger 146 to the guide wall 51 and adjacent the ribbed portion 147 of the adjustment screw 139. The finger 146 prevents inadvertent rotation of the adjustment screw 139, is constructed of a suitable handened and spring-like material and may give off a clicking sound as the ribbed portion 147 revolves therepast. The guide wall 51a supports a subassembly which does not appear on the guide wall 51. The guide wall 51a includes a recess 151 (FIGURE 3) in its lower forward corner. A support member 152 extends under said recess 151 and rotatably supports a segmented roller 153 thereon for guiding panels therepast and through the opening 29.

OPERATION Although the operation of the device embodying the invention has been indicated somewhat hjereinabove, same will be repeated in detail for purposes of assuring a clear understanding of the machine.

The side shuttle 21 and main shuttle 26 as well as the backstop 37 are adjusted to accommodate the size of panel to be fed. The guide walls 51 and 51a are adjusted to the proper distance therebetween by loosening the wing nuts 122 and 122:: and rotating the eccentrics 117 and 117a. The screws on the U-brackets 129 and 129a will normally be set to define the accepted range of such spacing adjustment of the guide walls 51 and 51a. The guide walls 51 and 51a may be adjusted vertically of the arms 43 and 43a, respectively, by loosening the screws 47 and 47a. In this way, the guide wall 51 will normally be vertically adjusted until the lower plate carrier blocks 134 thereof are correctly vertically placed with respect to the plate carrying surfaces of the shuttles 21 and 26. The other guide wall 51a would then be normally vertically adjusted to place it at the height -134 and upon the side shuttle 21.

7 of the right guide wall 51. Finally, the abutment 143 would be vertically adjusted by means of the screw 139 to place said abutment 143 at a height above the lower plate carrier block 134 which is slightly greater than the thickness of the lowermost plate 76 in the stack 14.

With the above adjustments completed, the stack 14 of panels may be placed between the guide walls 51 and 51a adjacent to and preferably contacting the forward bars 17 with the bottom panel 16 resting upon the blocks Either before or after the placement of the stack 14 in the aforementioned manner, the screws 101 (FIGURE 6) may be adjusted to adjust the pressure which will be exerted upon the sides of the stack 14 by the jaws 63, 64, 63a and 64a (FIGURE 3).

The panel feeder when shuttles 26 and 21 are included therein, starts with the main shuttle 26 in its forward position and with the side shuttle 21 lying outwardly in its position in FIGURE 5. The stack 14, except for the several (here considered as two for purposes of illustration) bottommost panels thereof, is then lifted a short distance vertically by the jaws 63, 64, 63a and 64a. The main shuttle 26 is then moved rearwardly to allow the side shuttle 21 to be moved inwardly whereby the lowermost panel 16 is moved rightwardly as seen in FIG- URES 1 and 6, said lowermost panel 16 being moved between the abutment 143 and the support block 134. The main shuttle 26 is then moved forwardly to move the lowermost panel 16 forwardly until it is engaged by the rollers 31 and 32 and placed thereby upon the table 33 for further processing. Simultaneously, the side shuttle 26 is impelled outwardly and the second panel is lowered into the lowermost panel position. The stack 14 is then lowered to place the third plate upon the second one. The stack 14 except for the third and second plates thereof is then raised and the sequence continues in the manner above described.

The stack 14 is raised as described immediately hereinbelow. At a preferably predetermined time, the plungers 86 and 86a are raised by means not shown, and preferably synchronized with the action of the rest of the machine, considering the action of the plunger 86, the roller 84 and actuator block 82 attached thereto are urged upwardly. The relatively wide head on the plunger 86 insures contact with the roller 84 despite sideward adjustment of the guide wall 51 upon which said actuator block 82 is ultimately supported. Upward movement of the actuator block 82 causes a corresponding movement of the jaw plate 57 and hence of the T-shaped camming plate 108 and small camming plates 111. Only a short upward movement is required to bring the small camming plates 111 into contact with the inner portion of the cam rollers 96 which tends to make the camming plates 111 follow the circumference of the cam rollers 96 upwardly and inwardly. Thus, the jaws 63 and 64 are moved into contact with the stack 14 of plates and grip the lower portion of said stack 14 above, in this example, the two bottommost panels therein whereby the stack is lifted by the rising jaws 63, 64, 63a and 64a. Said jaws exert a sideward force upon the stack 14 which is determined by the compressive force exerted upon the camming blocks 92 and 93 by the springs 104, which force is determined by the adjustment of the elongated screws 101. After the required time has passed for the stack 14 to be elevated, the plunger '86 moves downwardly and the actuating block 82 with the jaws 63 and 64 follows same downwardly in a motion which is the reverse of the above-described pick-up motion. The springs 104 are prevented from urging the camming blocks 92 and 93 and hence the jaws 63 and 64 too far inwardly, as when the plunger 86 is in a retracted position, by the bearing of the abutments 166 against the outer face of the guide wall 51.

The jaws 63, 64, 63a and 64:: may be made to engage and lift the stack 14 in the absence of upward movement of the plungers 86 and 86a by a manual lifting of the 8 handles 72 and 72a. Lifting of the handle 72 (FIGURE 2), for example, causes the camming portion 73 thereof to force the pin 77 and hence the jaw assembly 56 upwardly.

' Continued movement causes the locking portion 74 on the handle '72 to contact the pin 77 in a locking position whereby to hold the jaw assembly 56 in its elevated position. Thus, the stack 14 may be held in an upward position for purposes such as cleaning or inspection of the area between the shuttle 26 and rollers 31 and 32.

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed hereinabove for purposes of illustration, modifications or variations thereof appearing in the appended claims are fully contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. In a suporting and lifting device for lifting an upstanding stack of panels off the lowermost panels in the stack, the combination comprising:

a pair of upstanding spaced, guide walls separated by said stack and frame means supporting said guide walls for lateral movement with respect to said frame whereby stacks of different width may be accommodated;

lift means mounted upon each of said guide walls and movable therewith including jaw assembly means mounted for lateral movement with respect to said guide walls for gripping said stack therebetween and lifting the upper portion of said stack to remove the weight thereof from the lower panels of said stack.

2. The device defined in claim 1 including a substantially rigid arm aflixed to the outer surface of each of said guide walls and extending thereabove and pivot means pivotally supporting each of said arms at the upper end thereof, whereby said guide walls may be moved toward and away from each other by pivotal movement thereof about said pivot means.

3. The device defined in claim 1 including:

an arm extending upwardly from each of said guide walls and pivot means pivotally supporting the upper ends of said arms for allowing movement of said guide walls toward and away from each other;

lift frame means extending outwardly from each of said guide walls, said lift frame means including upwardly opening grooved means essentially parallel to said guide wall;

eccentric means and means rotatably mounting same for rotation about a fixed axis and within said groove;

whereby a rotation of said eccentric means pivots the guide wall about said pivot means.

4. The device defined in claim 1 in which said left means includes camming block means and lift frame means fixed to the outer surface of said guide wall for pivotally supporting said camming block means, said camming block means carrying camming roller means at the lower end thereof, said camming block means having abutment means thereupon for contacting said guide wall to,limit inward movement of said rollers means toward said guide wall, adjustable means on said lift frame means resiliently urging said camming roller means inwardly with respect to said guide wall and camming surfaces on said jaw assembly engageable by said camming roller for controlling the path of movement of said jaw assembly.

5. The device defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said guide walls has mounted upon the lower end thereof inwardly extending panel support means for supporting the bottommost panel of said stack; and

wherein at least one of said guide walls has a vertically adjustable abutment extending downwardly therefrom above said panel support means for determining therebetween a gap capable of receiving the lowermost panel of said stack but excluding the rest of said stack therefrom.

6. In a supporting and lifting device for lifting an upwalls pendently supported on said upstanding wall for pivotal movement toward and away from each other, said guide walls extending away from said upstanding wall above said shelf for laterally supporting said stack therebetween;

at least one outwardly extending plate substantially parallel to said upstanding wall on each of said guide walls adjacent the lower end thereof;

a rotatable eccentric extending between and engaging said upstanding wall and said plates on each of said guide walls for adjusting the distance between said guide walls upon rotation thereof;

a camming element, means mounting same on said plate for movement at least toward and away from said stack, means for limiting movement of said camming element at least toward said stack and adjustable compression spring means for urging said element toward said stack;

a jaw plate supported on each of said guide walls for substantially vertical sliding movement and for movement toward and away from said stack at least at the lower end thereof and jaws on the inner face of said jaw plate for engaging said stack;

a manually actuable handle on each guide wall engageable with said jaw plate for lifting same;

a first camming member on the outer surface of said jaw plate adjacent said jaws;

a second camming member and means supporting same on said jaw plate above and outwardly of said first camming member, said camming element being snugly passable between said camming members; and

means for vertically energizing said jaw plate adjacent the lower end thereof, said camming element acting on said camming members to resiliently urge said jaws against said stack as said jaws move upwardly and to positively move said jaws away from said stack as said jaws move downwardly.

7. In a supporting and lifting device for lifting an upstanding stack of panels, the combination comprising:

a frame;

a pair of upstanding guide walls movably mounted on said frame and separated by said stack;

jaw means movably mounted upon each of said guide walls and engageable with said stack for lifting same;

means for lowering said jaw means with respect to said guide wall;

means for positively moving said jaw means away from said stack as said jaw means is lowered.

8. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said jaw as sembly means includes jaw plate means movably mounted on the outer surface of each of the guide walls, said jaw plate means having jaw means mounted on the inner face thereof adjacent the lower end thereof for contacting said stack;

said lift means further includes a first camming surface fixed with respect to the outer surface of said jaw plate means; and

camming roller means and lift frame means for mounting said camming roller means upon said guide wall, said camming roller means bearing upon said first camming surface whereby upward urging of said jaw plate means with respect to said guide wall will produce motion of said jaw plate means including an upward component and an inward motion component; and

a second camming surface spaced outwardly from said jaw plate means a distance sufficient to accommodate said camming roller means therebetween, said second camming surface being spaced upwardly from said first camming surface for contacting said roller means to prevent inward movement of said jaw assembly means when said jaw assembly means is in its lowermost position.

9. In a panel feeding machine for removing the bottom panel from an upstanding stack of panels and including means for laterally supporting said stack and for lifting at least a part thereof, said means comprising:

a frame;

a pair of laterally spaced substantially upstanding guide walls mounted for lateral movement with respect to said frame for laterally supporting said stack therebetween;

jaw means mounted for lateral movement on each of said walls and for movement upwardly and downwardly therealong;

means carried by each of said walls for effecting lateral movement of said jaw means with respect to said wall when said jaw means is moved vertically with respect to said wall;

energizing means for vertically moving said jaw means,

said carried means being laterally movable with respect to said energizing means.

10. The device defined in claim 9 wherein said jaw means includes upstanding jaw plate means disposed outwardly at and adjacent the outer surface of the guide wall, bearing means affixed to the outer surface of said guide wall near the upper end thereof for supporting said jaw plate means for vertical sliding movement therein, said bearing means allowing said jaw plate means to swing laterally toward and away from said guide wall, resilient means for urging said jaw plate means downwardly from said bearing means, and jaw means on the inner surface of said jaw plate means located for communicating with the area between said guide walls when said jaw plate means is moved toward said guide wall.

11. The device defined in claim 10 including abutment means on said jaw plate means, a manually actuatable handle pivoted at one end thereof adjacent said abutment means and upon said guide wall, said handle having a curved camming surface thereon in contact with said abutment means and having a locking depression at one end of said curved camming surface for engagement with said abutment means;

whereby actuation of said handle causes said curved camming surface to engage said abutment means for lifting said jaw plate means against the urging of said spring means, and continued actuation of said handle causes said abutment means to fall into said locking depression whereby to hold said jaw plate means in an elevated position.

12. The device defined in claim 9 wherein said jaw means includes jaw plate means adjacent said guide wall, jaw means mounted on the inner surface of said jaw plate means at the bottom end thereof for engagement with said stack and camming surfaces aifixed to said jaw plate means; and said means carried by said wall includes at least one camming roller, means movably and rotatably mounting said roller on said guide wall and means for resiliently urging said roller into engagement with said camming surfaces whereby an upward urging of said jaw plate means causes said jaw means to follow a path beginrung with inward movement and ending with upward movement, said inward movement bringing said jaw means into contact with said stack and said upward movement lifting said stack.

13. In a panel feeding machine for removing the bottom panel from an upstanding stack of panels and including means for laterally supporting said stack and for lifting at least a part thereof, said means comprising:

a frame;

a pair of laterally spaced substantially upstanding guide walls mounted for lateral movement toward and away from each other on said frame for laterally supporting said stack therebetween;

jaw means mounted for lateral movement on each of said walls and for sliding movement upwardly and urging same While allowing lateral movement of said downwardly therealong; jaw means with respect thereto. carnming means carried by each of Sflld walls for efiect- References-Cited by the Examiner mg lateral movement of said aw means With respect to said wall when said jaw means is moved vertically 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS with respect to said Wall; 1,969,170 8/34 Erickson 221242 energizing means mounted for vertical movement with 3,075,671 1/63 McAlpine et a1 221225 respect to Sal frame and RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Prlmary Examiner.

a laterally elongated surface on said energizing means slideably contacting said jaw means for vertically 10 LOUIS I. DEMBO, Examiner. 

6. IN A SUPPORTING AND LIFING DEVICE FOR LIFTING AN UPSTANDING STACK OF PANELS OFF THE LOWERMOST PANELS IN THE STACK, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: A FRAME INCLUDING A SHELF AND A WALL UPSTANDING THEREFROM; AN OPPOSED, SPACED PAIR OF UPWARDLY EXTENDED GUIDE WALLS PENDENTLY SUPPORTED ON SAID UPSTANDING WALL FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, SAID GUIDE WALLS EXTENDING AWAY FROM SAID UPSTANDING WALL ABOVE SAID SHELF FOR LATERALLY SUPPORTING SAID STACK THEREBETWEEN; AT LEAST ONE OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PLATE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID UPSTANDING WALL ON EACH OF SAID GUIDE WALLS ADJACENT THE LOWER END THEREOF; A ROTATABLE ECCENTRIC EXTENDING BETWEEN AND ENGAGING SAID UPSTANDING WALL AND SAID PLATES ON EACH OF SAID GUIDE WALLS FOR ADJUSTING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID GUIDE WALLS UPON ROTATION THEREOF; A CAMMING ELEMENT, MEANS MOUNTING SAME ON SAID PLATE FOR MOVEMENT AT LEAST TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID STACK, MEANS FOR LIMITING MOVEMENT OF SAID CAMMING ELEMENT AT LEAST TOWARD SAID STACK AND ADJUSTABLE COMPRESSION SPRING MEANS FOR URGING SAID ELEMENT TOWARD SAID STACK; 